News Release

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is Adapting Operations in Response to Local Health Guidance - Opening Trails

Date: May 21, 2020
Contact: Jan Maslen, 9078227206

Copper Center, AK. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is adapting park operations by opening the following trails within the Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark (KNHL) beginning Friday May 22, 2020:

• Use of the Erie Mine Trail;
• Use of the Root Glacier Trail;
• Use of the Bonanza Mine Trail; and
• Use of the Jumbo Mine Trail within the KNHL.

In response to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the State of Alaska and in support of federal, state, and local efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) while opening locations, three mitigations have been identified and will be implemented prior to trail opening:

• Brushing key locations along the trails to provide areas where hikers can pass each other while maintaining social distancing.
• The development of community-informed trail use guidelines that will help trail users adhere to social distancing recommendations.
• Signage which will help people avoid passing one another in very tight areas; and help alleviate congested trail conditions during specific times of the day.

Through a community engagement effort, the popular KNHL trails will reopen on May 22 in time for the Memorial Day weekend. Superintendent Bobowski shared that: “We are grateful for the collaboration and input from local professional hiking guides and local community members in developing guidelines to open these trails while continuing to provide visitor services in a safe manner.” The idea of community-informed guidelines was introduced to park management during one of its community Listening Sessions in Kennecott in 2018. We are pleased to pilot this approach to shared stewardship of the National Historic Landmark as we continue to address efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, communities and partners is our priority. Visitors come from diverse and distant locations to the rural and remote locations in and around Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. The NPS is working service-wide with federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and to create ways to provide services safely. We will provide updates on our website https://www.nps.gov/wrst/index.htm and social media channels.
More than 13 million acres of outdoor spaces at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve remain accessible to the public where visitors can disperse and adhere to the latest health guidelines.

The NPS encourages people to take advantage of the many digital tools already available to explore Wrangell-St. Elias, including:
• The Wrangell-St. Elias website at https://www.nps.gov/wrst/index.htm.
• On-line Junior Ranger program at https://www.nps.gov/wrst/learn/kidsyouth/be-a-junior- ranger.htm
• Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WrangellSt.EliasNPP/

Visitors can also call 907-822-5234, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm to obtain information about the park. Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus. Please check with individual parks for specific details about park operations. https://www.nps.gov/findapark/index.htm